Nitsa Leonardos, who was born 101 years ago in a mountainside village in Greece, died Saturday, Sept. 21, 2013.

Leonardos grew up in the Peloponnese Peninsula, Achladokambos, in a family with eight brothers and sisters.

She married Peter, and the young couple loved to dance. Leonardos was always an outstanding cook, and she passed that skill onto her children and grandchildren.

She immigrated to New Castle, Penn., in 1951 with her family. After her husband’s death, she returned to Greece temporarily. Later, she moved back to the U.S. and lived in Grand Rapids, where she became part of the Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church community.

Leonardos was a world traveler who saw Jerusalem and traveled throughout the Middle East, Europe, the U.S. and Canada. She enjoyed entertaining and was known for having a heart full of love and joy.

She was welcoming, forgiving and accepting. Her family learned many loving lessons from their beloved “Yiayia.”

She was preceded in death by her husband Peter, her twin sister Kiki, sisters Lambrini, Bessie and Tashia and brothers Gus, Nick and Taki. She is survived by her sons John (Wendy) Leonardos of Erie PA.; George (Stephanie) of Ada; grandchildren John, Rick, Lori (John Irwin) Leonardos, Stephanie (Michael) Ragon, Christina (Michael) Rosloniec, Nicholas "Niko" Leonardos; great-grandchildren Alexandra Nitsa Irwin; Jonathan, Benjamin, Nicholas, Stephanie and Maria Ragon; Anna and Ella Rosloniec, and many adoring nieces and nephews throughout the U.S and Greece.

The family will meet friends and family at Metcalf & Jonkhoff funeral chapel 7-9 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 24, and a Trisagion service will take place at 8 p.m. The funeral services will be held at Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church 11 a.m. Wednesday.